Casts of two British children’s series, “Horrible Histories” and “Yonderland” combine to extremely local effect with a family-ish comedy of a low order about the “lost years” of the lute-playing “Bill” (Matthew Baynton). Among the comic complications of this slapdash, on-the-cheap production: a plot by Spain’s King Philip II to murder Queen Elizabeth I during the premiere of Shakespeare’s first play, “A Series of Funny Misunderstandings.” More “Carry On” or Christmas panto than Monty Python or “Blackadder,” the low humor likely struck higher notes with the groundlings of Blighty. Multiple roles are played by Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Martha Howe-Douglas, Jim Howick, Damian Lewis, Laurence Rickard and Ben Willbond. The director is Richard Bracewell. 94m. (Ray Pride)
Ray Pride is Newcity’s Senior Editor and Film Critic. He is a contributing editor of Filmmaker magazine.
Ray’s history of Chicago Ghost Signs is planned for publication next year. Previews of the project are on Twitter and on Instagram. More photography on Instagram.
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